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But in one of the most competitive seasons the series has seen, Whincup said he and the team needed to "step up" in the second half of the year if they were to stay on top.

"Everyone knows there is no prize for leading the championship in the middle of the year," said Whincup, who was fifth in the championship last year after four straight title wins.

"You've got to be there at the end. It's certainly encouraging that we are in contention, we are doing as good a job as anyone else.

"As I've said the last few months, if we don't step up, we will get left behind so it's all focused on making sure we can keep improving and staying right at the front of the park come the Sydney 500 at the end of the year.

"I'm certainly not over-confident, but I feel like I'm as good a chance as anyone this season. I feel like it's up to us. If we maximise our performance, I feel like we'll be in with a good shot come the end of the year."

Whincup acknowledged his biggest threat came from within his own team from Van Gisbergen, who has four race wins this season to Whincup's two.

"He is my biggest rival. We will continue to work together and work hard to try and be in a position where we are in championship contention and then race it out right at the end of the year," Whincup said.

"The relationship is really good. The media are trying to say otherwise. We get on well working together and everything is as strong as it should be and hopefully we can get to the end of the year and be battling it out together."